MCHC continues level IV trauma center designation

The Minnesota Department of Health has again designated the Madelia Community Hospital & Clinic (MCHC) as a Level IV trauma hospital. The staff voluntarily participated in the annual designation process needed to continue being part of Minnesota’s statewide trauma system. The process included an outside review of the hospital’s resources and capabilities to care for trauma patients. MCHC again met the standards of commitment, clinical equipment resources and staff training. The hospital also participates in a continuous performance improvement process.

The MCHC Emergency Department is trained and equipped to treat many minor to moderate injuries, and to stabilize and triage severe injuries. Triage is a method of sorting patients by type and severity of injury to ensure prompt transfer of critical patients to the appropriate next level of care. In many cases, a patient’s condition can be stabilized or improved by care at a community hospital making transfer to more distant regional trauma centers, safer with a better chance of a positive outcome.

Trauma is the third leading cause of death in Minnesota, claiming about 2400 lives annually. The goal of the trauma system is to decrease injured patients’ time to care by making sure their medical needs are appropriately matched with hospital resources. States with trauma systems have seen survival rates increase by 15 to 20 percent. Wide-scale participation in the voluntary trauma system ensures that a statewide, cooperative effort is in place to care for seriously injured patients.

Minnesota began developing a statewide trauma system in August of 2005.

Through its designation, MCHC recognizes the vital role that communities, ambulance services, hospitals and healthcare professionals play in the care and management of trauma patients.

Madelia Community Hospital’s Emergency Department has physicians and registered nurses available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with support from medical and surgical services.

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